Zac Hall
A decade old iPhone recently caught on fire while charging in a family's
kitchen, and the combustion was caught on video. Fortunately, no one was
injured and the fire burned out, but the footage is alarming as it occurred
overnight while the family was sleeping.
The fire occurred with an iPhone 4, a model that was introduced 12 years
ago, so no one should worry about modern iPhones catching fire. However, the
incident highlights the importance of knowing what can cause a battery to
combust.
Brian and Jennifer Leisgang of Ohio shared details of what happened in a
Facebook post. The family says a Google Home product in the kitchen that was
set to always record caught the video.
In the post, the family describes how dangerous the situation could have
been:
" We were extremely lucky to avoid a house fire. Our kids were charging our
old iPhone 4 with the apple charger last night and it exploded and caught on
fire in our kitchen while we were sleeping.
Luckily we had just cleaned off the counter yesterday as it [usually] has
lots of school books and papers in that area. There were small pieces of the
phone and black soot all over the counter this morning."
Lithium-ion batteries are common in electronics and battery fires are rare,
but there are conditions that cause rechargeable batteries to overheat and
combust. Common causes include exposure to fire, damage from being
punctured, and manufacturer defects.
As for this specific iPhone, one of a few things likely happened. Cheap
chargers are often at fault for batteries catching fire, although the
charging cable appears to be in good condition here.
The age of the iPhone is also a factor. Older iPhones don't increase the
risk of fire, but battery care is critical. A 12-year-old iPhone still in
use will either have a replacement battery or live on a charger to stay
powered.
Keeping an aging battery connected to a charger can cause the battery to
overcharge and overheat. Battery replacement, while necessary, should also
be handled with care. Relying on an Apple Authorized Service Provider will
ensure the correct procedure is followed and genuine parts are used.
Lithium-ion batteries can also expand with age. A chemical reaction inside
the battery provides power, but the chemical reaction can fail over time and
create a gas. This causes the battery to swell up which greatly increases
the risk of catching fire. Bulging batteries should always be handled with
care and replaced.
9to5Mac.
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